Will Henry Cavill Suit Up as Superman Again? Netflix Rumours Unpacked
Speculation is swirling about Henry Cavill’s possible Superman comeback after Netflix’s Warner Bros. deal. What’s fuelling the chatter, and is there any truth to the hype? Dive in for the full story.
Talk of Henry Cavill donning the Superman cape once more has been everywhere since Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. was announced. Some punters are convinced the new owners will give James Gunn the boot and bring back the old Snyderverse. There’s even chatter online that Netflix is quietly negotiating with Cavill behind the scenes.
Why Fans Reckon Netflix Might Back Cavill
Many locals reckon Netflix would favour Zack Snyder’s take on the Man of Steel over Gunn’s, mainly because of the streamer’s history with both Snyder and Cavill. After Snyder parted ways with Warner Bros., he signed a multi-project deal with Netflix. Cavill, meanwhile, was the face of Netflix’s The Witcher for a good while.
From a numbers perspective, some reckon there’s a case for bringing back the old DCEU. Gunn’s Superman, the first big-screen outing for the new DCU, didn’t quite hit box office expectations, though it did clear $600 million. Man of Steel, on the other hand, pulled in over $670 million. But when you factor in ticket prices—$8.13 in 2013 versus $16.08 now—Cavill’s film sold more than double the tickets. Adjusted for inflation, Man of Steel’s box office would be nearly $800 million today.
Why a Cavill Comeback Isn’t So Simple
Despite the buzz, there are a few hurdles. Cavill’s exit from The Witcher after season three wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. Reports suggest he clashed with the creative team over the show’s direction, which strayed from the original books. The series took a hit in reviews after he left, with Liam Hemsworth stepping in.
It’s not just Cavill who’s had a rocky run with Netflix. The streamer has reportedly started distancing itself from Snyder’s projects. Several of his planned films and series have been canned, including sequels and spin-offs in the Army of the Dead universe. The Rebel Moon saga, which was meant to be a big deal, fizzled out after just two films. Even Snyder’s animated series, Twilight of the Gods, didn’t get a second season. There’s word that budget disputes and underwhelming results have made Netflix rethink its partnership with Snyder.
James Gunn’s Position After the Merger
As for James Gunn, it looks like he’s not going anywhere soon. Warner Bros. knocked back a takeover bid from Paramount Skydance, with shareholders backing Netflix’s offer instead. Part of the deal reportedly involves keeping Gunn and his co-CEO Peter Safran in charge, along with the current heads of Warner Bros. films.
Netflix has said it plans to keep Warner Bros. running as usual and build on its strengths, including releasing films in cinemas. There’s no sign they’ll make any big changes, like sacking Gunn, any time soon. In fact, Warner Bros. is handing out hefty retention bonuses to keep top execs on board. Gunn and Safran have even had their contracts extended through to 2027. With Gunn’s first DCU film performing well compared to other studios’ releases, the studio has already greenlit a sequel and locked in Supergirl for 2026.
What do you make of all the talk about Cavill’s possible return? Both Man of Steel and Superman are streaming now on HBO Max.